Goffstown defensive end Brockton Hines rushes the passer during practice on Wednesday. Hines will be playing against his father and Bedford High School coach, Kurt Hines, when the teams square off on Saturday. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)

Both Kurt Hines and his son, Brockton, have been preparing for Bedford's Homecoming game against Goffstown. Kurt is Bedford's head coach. Brockton is a defensive end who plays for Goffstown.

.Saturday's game (2 p.m. kickoff) will be the first time Brockton has suited up to play against a team coached by his father.

"Not only am I the head coach, I'm also the offensive coordinator, so I'm game-planning against my son," Kurt said. "As the coach at Bedford, to achieve my goal, I have to beat my son."..Bedford is 4-0 and ranked No. 2 in the Union Leader/WGIR/WMUR Power Poll. Goffstown is 1-3.

Brockton suffered a concussion in practice earlier this season and didn't play in Goffstown's last two games, but said he's been cleared to play Saturday...Brockton, a 16-year-old junior, is also good friends with several Bedford players.

"It's been calm in the house," Brockton said. "There's been some friendly banter, but it's all in good fun. We've had a tough season so far, but we have nothing to lose. I think it will be a good experience..."We don't have a friendly wager yet, but he's brought it up."

Kurt and Goffstown coach Justin Hufft coached together for seven years as assistants at Souhegan High School in Amherst. Kurt spent one season as an assistant coach at Goffstown before he left for Bedford...Saturday's game is sure to take a toll on Jillian Hines — Kurt's wife and Brockton's mother — as well. Jillian often helps out the Goffstown Booster Club, and even held one of the weekly pasta dinners for the Goffstown team at her house earlier this season..."I'm an emotional wreck," Jillian said. "I'm probably not sitting in the stands. I'll probably be on my own in my car behind the concession stand so I won't hear all the chatter."

Brockton and Kurt each said they expect Jillian to be rooting for Goffstown on Saturday. Kurt isn't the only family member who will be pulling for Bedford, however..."My daughter Sophia is a sophomore a Goffstown, and she's the first person to give me a hug after the game — win or lose," Kurt said. "So there will be one Goffstown resident rooting for Bedford this week — two including myself..."After the game, win or lose, there's going to be tears."

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TONIGHT'S matchup between No. 3 Nashua South (4-0) and No. 5 Exeter (3-1) at Stellos Stadium is the marquee game in the state this weekend.

Exeter, which has won the last two Division I titles, is coming off Saturday night's 21-14 overtime loss to Bishop Guertin of Nashua. The Blue Hawks have allowed more than 500 passing yards in their last two games..."I know they've struggled against the pass the last couple weeks, so what do you think they've been working on?" Nashua South coach Scott Knight said. "(Exeter coach) Billy Ball watches a ton of film, so he'll know our tendencies. They're a well-coached team..."We could use a signature win this year," said Knight. "We really don't have one. It's not a playoff game, but it's a big one."

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MONADNOCK of Swanzey (4-0) is one of three unbeaten teams in Division II, but won't be anywhere near full strength for tonight's home game against Laconia (2-2)...Monadnock coach Linwood Patnode said linebacker/place-kicker Mischa Hoffman will miss tonight's game with a concussion. Quarterback Isaiah Prince is also nursing a lower-leg injury suffered in last weekend's 27-19 victory over Sanborn of Kingston..."My gut tells me he'll go, but he won't be 100 percent," Patnode said. "He was in such pain on the field I thought for sure it was a fracture. Isaiah's been a treat to watch on offense this year."

SALEM will honor all veterans at tonight's home game against Manchester West. Veterans will be allowed into the game for free and will be recognized for their service before the national anthem. All veterans are invited to attend...- - - - - - - -

FOURTEEN of the 17 teams in Division III will enter the weekend with a record at or above the .500 mark. Four of the five teams in Division III North — Gilford, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, Newfound and Winnisquam of Tilton — are 2-2...- - - - - - - -

THE starting time for today's Division I game between Pinkerton Academy of Derry and Manchester Memorial has been moved from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. The game will be played at Memorial.

Roger Brown covers high school football for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. He can be reached at rbrown@unionleader.com. Follow him on Twitter: @603sportsmedia.